The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1–5, Matthew 3:1–12, Mark 1:1–8, Luke 3:1–20)

And this was vvv John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him,“Who are you?” 20 He did not refuse to confess but openly declared“I am not the Christ.”

21 

“Then who [are you]?” they inquired“Are you Elijah?”

He said,“I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered,“No.”

22 

So they said to him,“Who are you? vvv We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 

[John] replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“I [am] a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Make straight the way for [the] Lord.’ ”[fn]

24 

Then those whom the Pharisees had sent[fn] 25 asked him“Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 

“I baptize with[fn] water,” John replied“but among you stands [One] you {do} not know 27 [He is] the One who comes after me, who is preferred before me,[fn] the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28 

All this happened at Bethany[fn] beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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